Kobe Bryant

Numerous NBA players have come out in support of Eric Garner including Derrick Rose, LeBron James and Kobe Bryant.  According to these sports reporters however, there’s something Kobe doesn’t have in common with Rose and James so they don’t understand his support.  Apparently Kobe isn’t hood enough.

Shay Marie

Derrick Rose, LeBron James and Kobe Bryant all donned “I Can’t Breathe” shirts to support Eric Garner who was put in a chokehold by a police officer and died.

Rose is from one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in Southside Chicago, LeBron grew up struggling in Akron, Ohio and Kobe Bryant is from Philly but spent many years living in Italy where his father played professional basketball.

Though Bryant’s upbringing was different from Rose and LeBron they all have something in common, they’re black men and they know how to feel empathy. Rich or poor a black man is still a black man and there are things all of them will have to face.

That’s why the comments from CBS basketball analyst Doug Gottlieb and Comcast SportsNet Bay Area contributor John Middlekauff are so disheartening.  Gottlieb referred to Kobe’s money while Middlekauff referred to Kobe’s upbringing as reasons why he couldn’t empathize or support Eric Garner, essentially saying Kobe isn’t hood enough.

*photos in gallery above*

I hope they come to realize why their statements are wrong but I doubt they will.  Both has since deleted their tweets but that only means they felt the Twitter heat coming down on them.